Electrically-illuminated sign



Dec. 1924. 1,521,177

J. FRIIS ET AL ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. FRIIS ET AL ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 4,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ann /mar I 2 g Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,21,? PATENT OFF-ICE.

JOHN FRIES AND CHARLES B. EHNBOR'N, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORSTO THUS.

GUSACK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 03' NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICALLY-ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed May 4, 1923. Serial No. 636,547.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN Fans and CHARLES B. EHNBORN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Illuminated Signs; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in,

electrically illuminated signs and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a sign of the kind with separate glass sign character plates and separate metal stencil plates, one for each character with the glass plates and the metal stencil plates independently supported in the sign. The sign character glass plates are all 'of the same dimensions as are also the metal stencil plates so that the position of the sign characters in the sign may be interchanged and where the sign character plates'are flat and not raised, the sign characters may be changed or interchanged b merely changing or interchanging the meta stencil plates and without disturblng the glass plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sign having these characteristics, simple and efficient means for sealing the sign body at the edges of the aforesaid plates against the escape of light to detract from the appearance of the si when illuminated, and this without inter ering with the easy manipulation of the metal stencil plates and glass plates.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully as we proceed with'our specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an electrically illuminated sign embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale through the sign shown in Figure 1, as taken on the line 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view as looked at from the rear of one of the sign character plates'embodying our invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through one end of the si n, the lane of the section being indicated y the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of arts of the sign shown at the bottom of igure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical detail sectional view throughone wall of a sign and associated s1 character embodying a modified form 0 our invention.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale through the same, as indicated by the line 77 of Figure 6.-

Fl re 8 is a view in front elevation of the Sign character shown in Figures 6 and 7 Re erring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the 1ngs:10 indicates as a whole a rectangular box-like sign body. Said sign bod as shown herein, is of the double face liind, with advertising matter depicted on both sides thereof, for observation b the passere by. The sign body includes end walls 11,11, top and bottom walls 12,12 and opposite side walls 13,13, each of which side walls has a rectangular elongated opening 14 therein, to receive the associated s1gn character.

The parts of the side walls 13 defining the longer horizontal dimension of the character openin 14 of the sign, are bent back upon themse ves and then horizontally inward to provide top and bottom horizontal webs 15 and 16 respectively, which terminate in vertically disposed flanges 17 and 18 res ectively, as shown in Figure 2. Said. we s and flanges provide top and bottom,

horizontally extending, oppositely facing channels or grooves 19 and 20 respectively, on the inner face of the side walls 13 of the sign body, the top channels being of a depth greater than that of the bottom channels. The parts of the side walls 13 defining the shorter ends of the character openings 14 of the sign are formed to provide upright, outwardly facing channels 21, 21. To said channels are secured strips, providing later: ally extending flanges 21, 21 wh1ch are parallel with but are spaced from said side walls 13 (see Fig. 5).

The si n character openingsld on each accompanying draw- I side oftlle sign body are divided as into.

equal spaces or division, b means of upright division bars '22, 22 see Figs. 1 and 4) Each division bar comprises a vertically disposed channel strip 23 with its flanges 24 directed outwardly, the web parts 'of the channels at the ends'thereofi being secured to the top and bottom vertica ly dis-' posed flanges 17 and 18 before mentioned. Secured to the back of the web of each division bar channel is a strip which projects laterally beyond the channels to provide flanges 25, 25 on each side of and at a right angle to the flanges of the channel bar strip.

Associated with each space or division in the character openings 14, 14 is a sign character, each of which consists of a sheet metal stencil plate 26 (see Fig. 3) having the usual cut out letter, symbol, etc. within its outline, and an associated sign char-' acter or backing plate 27 preferably made of translucent or milk white glass. The

glass sign character plate is ofi a width substantially equal to the distance between the flanges 24, 24 of adjacent channels of the division bars and is of a height slightward between adjacent division bars so that the channel-like support of the hook-shaped clips 28 are positioned in the vertical plane of the flanges 24 of the channels 23. To insert a glass sign character or backmg plate 27 into position, the top end thereof is entered into the top channel 19 of the opening 14 until said top end engages the web 15 of said channel. This will leave the bottom ed e of the backing plate in a plane above t at of the bottom edge of the opening, so that said end may be pushed inwardly and then allowed to settle downwardly until it seats itself in the channellike part of the holding clip 28. When the glass sign character plate is in this position, its lateral margins will engage against the lateral flanges 25 before mentioned, and its top marginal part will engage against the flange '17 of the top channel. 19.

Each sheet metal stencil plate 26 consists of a rectan lar plate of a width substantially equa median lines of the division bars, and, therefore, is necessarily wider than its associated glass sign character plate, there be ing inwardly projecting flanges 26, 26? at the sides of the stencil'plates, the purpose of which will appear later. Each stencil plate is of a height slightly less than the distance between the bottom edge of the characteropening 14 and web 15 of the top channel 19 and is flanged at its top and bot- .wardly thereon until the to to the distance between the tom ends so as to stiffen the same and eliminate rough edges.

In each sign stencil plate-is provided the usual letter strokes WlllCh are made by cutting out parts of the plate from .within its outlines. In case of letters such as B, R, and others as shown in Fig. 1, the non-integral parts 26" within the cutout strokes are supported in roper position by wlres 26 (see Fig. 3) on t e rear face thereof, which wires cross each other and are secured at their ends to the plate and at their intersections to said. non-integral parts by sjptgt welding or by soldering.

A r a glass sign character or backing plate has been inserted as before described, the associated stencil plate .is positioned with its side flanges 26 engaged between the side flanges of adjacent division bars after which the stencil plate is moved upedge of said plate engages the web 15 othe top channel 19. This brings the bottom edge of the stencil plate into a lane above that of the bottom edge of t e character opening 14 after which the bottom end of said stencil plate may be swung inwardly, said bottom edge passing through the sign character opening. The stencil plate 26 is then released, to settle a short distance until its bottom edge rests upon the web 16 of the bottom channel 20. Said plate cannot fall out or he accidentally dislodged from position because its top edge is engaged a ainst the side wall of the casing. ust a ve said opening 14. To remove said stencil plate, the movement is the reverse of that just mentioned, after which the backing or glass sign character plate may be removed, when." necessary, in the same manner. The combined thickness of the glass sign character plate and the stencil plate approximately equals the width of the associated top and bottomchannels 19 and 20 so as to substantially fill said channels. Thus, the said plates cannot rattle under wind ressure.

The sign 0 araeters are illuminated from within the casing by means of incandescent lamps 29, 29 which depend from a longitudmal support 30 arranged in the median plane of the casin there being a lamp positioned in the p ane between each air of division bars. Thus, the inner sur aces of the backing plates'are not only illuminated directly by said lam s but are also indirectly illuminated by re ection from the surfaces of opposed baekin plates. When the sign is thus illuminate those parts of the glass sign character or backing plates exposed through the letter strokes of the -tion of the passerby. The front face of the stencil plates are painted to present a contrast in appearance to the exposed parts of the glass sign character lates so that the said letters clearly stan out in the day time. Thus, the sign possesses attraction both as a night and a .day sign. When illuminated, no light can eak or escape through the sign in the vicinity of the division bars 22 by reason of the engagement of the glass sign character plates and the stencil lates, as before, mentioned. Furthermore,

y making the stencil plates removable 1ndependent of the backing plates, the stencil plates may be more readily interchanged to new ositions without danger of breaking the glass sign character plates. This is important since the changes in sign characters are often made by ersons not skilled in experience and shou (1 one of said stencil lates be accidentally dropped while handling ormaking a change, no serious damage is apt to occur. Should it be necessary to replace burned out lamps it is only neces sary to remove the stencil late and then the glass sign character or bac ing plate, which will give access to the interior of the s1 n.

In Fi s. 6, 7 and 8 we have illustrate a modifie form of the invention in which the glass si character or backin plate is fixed to and is carried by the stenc' plate so as to be removable therewith. In. such a construction the division bar 31 (see Fi 7) is provided by a channel 32 which inc udes a web 33 spaced inwardly from the plane of the front wall of the casing, which channel includes laterally extending flanges 34. That part of the front wall of the casing defining the end of the sign character opening is bent inwardly to provide a flan e 35 and secured thereto is a strip which inc udes a lateral extension flan e 36 which is arranged in the vertical p ane of the flanges 34 of the division bar. 37 indicates the sign character which in this instance includes a stencil plate with the letter strokes cut through the same and with a translucent glass sign character or-backing plate 38 secured thereto in an suitable manner. Those parts of each stencil plate defining the character stroke are oflset outwardly to provide a semi-cylindrical hollow rib 39 about said opening which is painted or otherwise coated to contrast with the rest of said stencil plate. Secured to the side margins of the stencil plate but spaced inwardly therefrom are inwardly extending flan es 40 which.en-'

gage the inwardly facing anges 32 of the division bars. Said stencil plates are of such width that their lateral mar 'ns overlap the division bars 31 so that t e escape of light at said division bars is entirely eliminated. The sign character as a whole may be easily removed as an entirety, for the pur use of interchanging them in a manner similar to-that before describe In referring to the glass of which the yaw.

letter plate is made, we have described it as translucent. By this is meant a glass which either by reason of its own inherent character from its process of manufacture, as in the case of opal or milk white glass or the like, or by reason of some external treatment or application as by aint, is capable of difiusing the'light whic passes through the strokes of the letter or character and of preventing the ap earance of glare spots in said strokes. Suc a glass not only produces the best results for a ni ht sign, when the si 11' is illuminated, but a so gives the best an most brilliant eifect for a day light sign.

We claim as our invention y 1. A sign structure comprising, in combination with a sign casing wall having an elongated rectangular opening therein to receive a plurality of stencil lates a trans; lucent glass sign character pate associated with each stencil plate, means on the inner surface of said wa 1 along the to and bottom edges of said opening provi ing grooves which face each other, division bars extending transversely of said opening and arranged in the plane of said grooves, a clip fixed to said groove at the bottom edge of said opening between adjacent division bars to support a glass si 11 character plate which engages at its latera margin with a part of said division bars, said glass sign character plate extending at its to end into the groove at the top edge of sai wall openin said stencil plate having lateral margina parts which overlap said division bars to provide a light seal and being adapted to engage with its top and bottom ed es .in sald grooves, and to be removable in ependent of said backing plate,and means in the sign casing for i luminating the interior thereof.

. 2. A sign structure comprising, in combination with a sign casing wall having an elongated rectangular opening therein adapted to receive a plurality of sign character members, division bars extending transversely of said opening and dividing the same into a plurallty of spaces, one for each sign character member, each division bar comprising a channel member having a web extending parallel with the sign casing wall'and having two flanges arranged at an angle to said web, the lateral margins of each sign character member overla pin the web portion of said channel mem r o the division bar and having flanges extending parallel with the flanges of said division bars, and means on the casing wall at the top and bottom edges of said elongated opening to removably hold said plates in position.

3. A sign structure comprising, in combination with a sign casing wall having an elongated rectangular o ening therein adapted to receive a plurahty of sign character'members, means on the inner surface of said wall along the top and bottom edges of the said opening providing) grooves wh ch face each other, division ars extendm transversely of said opening and arrange in the plane of said grooves, said bars di-' and having flanges extending parallel with one set of flan es of said divlslon bars, each character mem er being of a height greater than that of said opening and being adapted to engage with the top and bottom parts thereof so as to be removably engagedin the grooves at the top and bottom edges of said opening.

4. A sign structure comprising, in combination with a sign casing wall having an elongated rectangular adapted to receive a plurality of sign characters each of which comprises a stencil plate and a glass backing plate, division bars opening therein extending transversely of said opening and dividing the same into a plurality of spaces, one for each sign character, each division bar comprising a channel member havin a web extending parallel with the sign casing wall and having two sets of flanges, with one set parallel to said web and with the" other set at an an 10 thereto the lateral margins of the glass acking pl engaging the channel flanges para el with said channel web, and the lateral margins of the stencil plate, overlapping theweb portion of said channel mem er of the division bar and havin flanges extending parallel with that set 0 flanges of the channel mem ber extending at a right-angle to the web thereof, and means on the casing wall at the top and bottom edges of the elon ated opening to removably hold said stencil and backing plate in position.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this first day of May, A. D. 1923.

JOHN FRIIS.

. CHARLES B. EHNBORN.

Witnesses:

N. B. SULLIVAN,

T. H. Armns.

ate overlappling and 

